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One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used “physician work time values,” which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it’s unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It’s not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were and . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. “If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem’s announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn’t affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Is he a hero? A killer? Both? About the same time the #FreeLuigi memes featuring the mustachioed plumber from “Super Mario Brothers” mushroomed online, commenters shared memes showing Tony Soprano pronouncing Luigi Mangione , the man charged with murdering the UnitedHealthcare CEO in Manhattan , a hero. There were posts lionizing Mangione’s physique and appearance, the ones speculating about who could play him on “Saturday Night Live,” and the ones denouncing and even threatening people at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s for spotting him and calling police. It was all too much for Pennsylvania's governor, a rising Democrat who was nearly the vice presidential nominee this year. Josh Shapiro — dealing with a case somewhere else that happened to land in his lap — decried what he saw as growing support for “vigilante justice.” The curious case of Brian Thompson and Luigi Mangione captivated and polarized a media-saturated nation. It also offers a glimpse into how, in a connected world, so many different aspects of modern American life can be surreally linked — from public violence to politics, from health care to humor (or attempts at it) . It summons a question, too: How can so many people consider someone a hero when the rules that govern American society — the laws — are treating him as the complete opposite? Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, on Monday at the police station in Altoona, Pa. Writings found in Mangione's possession hinted at a vague hatred of corporate greed and an expression of anger toward “parasitic” health insurance companies. Bullets recovered from the crime scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” reflecting words used by insurance industry critics, written on them. A number of online posts combine an apparent disdain for health insurers — with no mention of the loss of life. “He took action against private health insurance corporations is what he did. he was a brave italian martyr. in this house, luigi mangione is a hero, end of story!” one anonymous person said in a post on X that has nearly 2 million views. On Monday, Shapiro took issue with comments like those. It was an extraordinary moment that he tumbled into simply because Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania. Shapiro's comments — pointed, impassioned and, inevitably, political — yanked the conversation unfolding on so many people's phone screens into real life. “We do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint,” the governor said. “In a civil society, we are all less safe when ideologues engage in vigilante justice.” But to hear some of his fellow citizens tell it, that's not the case at all. Like Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, D.B. Cooper and other notorious names from the American past, Mangione is being cast as someone to admire. Luigi Nicholas Mangione is escorted into Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Regina Bateson, an assistant political science professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied vigilantism, the term to which Shapiro alluded. She doesn’t see this case as a good fit for the word, she says, because the victim wasn’t linked to any specific crime or offense. As she sees it, it's more akin to domestic terrorism. But Bateson views the threats against election workers , prosecutors and judges ticking up — plus the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump this past summer — as possible signs that personal grievances or political agendas could erupt. “Americans are voicing more support for — or at least understanding of — political violence,” she said. Shapiro praised the police and the people of Blair County, who abided by a 9/11-era dictum of seeing something and saying something. The commenters have Mangione wrong, the governor said: “Hear me on this: He is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning." A person demonstrates Monday near the McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police earlier in the day arrested Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, in the Dec. 4 killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO in Manhattan. Even shy of supporting violence, there are many instances of people who vent over how health insurers deny claims. Tim Anderson's wife, Mary, dealt with UnitedHealthcare coverage denials before she died from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2022. “The business model for insurance is don’t pay,” Anderson, 67, of Centerville, Ohio, told The Associated Press . The discourse around the killing and Mangione is more than just memes. Conversations about the interconnectedness of various parts of American life are unfolding online as well. One Reddit user said he was banned for three days for supporting Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after testifying he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot two people in 2020 during protests. “Do you think people are getting banned for supporting Luigi?” the poster wondered. The comments cover a lot of ground. They include people saying the UnitedHealthcare slaying isn't a “right or left issue" and wondering what it would take to get knocked off the platform. “You probably just have to cross the line over into promoting violence,” one commenter wrote. “Not just laughing about how you don’t care about this guy.” Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Memes and online posts in support of the 26-year-old man, who's charged with killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO, have mushroomed online. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.Zayn Malik has issued a heartfelt apology to fans after he cancelled his concert in Newcastle moments before he was due to go on stage. The star wrote on a black background on his Instagram Stories on Tuesday night: "I'm so sorry to do this but my voice just isn't there at all tonight and without it there's no show. I'm truly sorry to let you down, especially at such short notice... I held onto hope until the very last moment. I'm hopeful with some rest tonight I'll be back on stage tomorrow. "My deepest apologies Newcastle. Love you all." The One Direction star has been on his Stairway to the Sky Tour, where fans have seen him perform in cities such as London, Manchester, Leeds, Wolverhampton. He is due to wrap up in Edinburgh in just a number of days. However, those who are in attendance at Newcastle City Hall on Tuesday night were left bewildered when a tannoy announcement confirmed that the show wouldn't be going ahead. Heartbroken fans were told that the show "will no longer go ahead". The announcement stated: "We apologise for the late notice, it was his hope that he would be able to continue with the show. "But this is no longer possible. Please contact your point of purchase for reschedule or refunds. If you have parents or guardians collecting you, please stay in the auditorium and wait to be collected." Fans rushed to social media to send their well wishes to Zayn, with one fan writing on X/ Twitter : "Come on guys, let's think about it a bit, Zayn wouldn't cancel a show at the last minute for anything... I hope everything is okay." " @zaynmalik Take care babe and we love you," one fan commented and another said: "Sorry for everyone attending the Newcastle show for Zayn's tonight, please don't say hateful words towards him we don't know what he's going through." One user even claimed there were "lots of people crying" at the venue. His tour is the first in Zayn's career as a solo artist. He never took to the road alone since leaving One Direction in 2015. He performed many of his solo hits, including Pillowtalk and Ignorance Ain't Bliss. But the tour also comes at a heartbreaking time for the singer. Last month, his former bandmate Liam Payne tragically passed away aged just 31. Following the news, Zayn announced he would be rescheduling the North American leg and opening two nights of his UK tour. Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
Controlling matter at the atomic level December 3, 2024 University of Bath Physicists are getting closer to controlling single-molecule chemical reactions -- could this shape the future of pharmaceutical research? Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Controlling matter at the atomic level has taken a major step forward, thanks to groundbreaking nanotechnology research by an international team of scientists led by physicists at the University of Bath. This advancement has profound implications for fundamental scientific understanding. It is also likely to have important practical applications, such as transforming the way researchers develop new medications. Controlling single-outcome single-molecule reactions is now almost routine in research laboratories across the world. For example, over a decade ago, researchers from the technology giant IBM showcased their ability to manipulate individual atoms by creating A boy and his atom , the world's smallest movie. In the film, single molecules, consisting of two atoms bonded together, were magnified 100-million times and positioned frame-by-frame to tell a stop-motion story on an atomic scale. Achieving control over chemical reactions with multiple outcomes, however, has remained elusive. This matters because generally only some outcomes of a chemical reaction are useful. For instance, during drug synthesis, a chemical process that results in 'cyclisation' produces the desired therapeutic compound, however 'polymerisation', another outcome, leads to unwanted byproducts. Being able to precisely control reactions to favour desired outcomes and reduce unwanted byproducts promises to improve the efficiency and sustainability of pharmaceutical processes. Scanning tunnelling microscopy The new study, published today in the journal Nature Communications , set out to demonstrate for the first time that competing chemical reaction outcomes can be influenced by using the atomic resolution of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). Conventional microscopes use light and lenses to magnify specimens, allowing us to view them with the naked eye or a camera. However, when it comes to atoms and molecules, which are smaller than even the shortest wavelengths of visible light, traditional methods fall short. To explore these tiny realms, scientists turn to a scanning tunnelling microscope, which operates much like a record player. With a tip that can be as fine as a single atom, scanning tunnelling microscopes move across a material's surface, measuring properties such as electric current to map each point. However, rather than pressing the tip into the surface like a record player needle, the tip hovers just a single atom's width above it. When connected to a power source, electrons travel down the tip and make a quantum leap across the atom-sized gap. The closer the tip is to the surface, the stronger the current; the farther away it is, the weaker the current. This well-defined relationship between tip distance and current allows the microscope to measure and map the surface of the atom or molecule based on the electric current strength. As the tip sweeps across the surface, it builds a precise, line-by-line image of the surface, revealing details invisible to conventional light microscopes. Single-molecule reactions Using the atomic precision of a scanning tunnelling microscope, scientists can go beyond mapping the surface of a molecule -- they can both reposition single atoms and molecules, and influence and measure the likelihood of specific reaction pathways in individual molecules. Explaining, Dr Kristina Rusimova, who led the study, said: "Typically, STM technology is employed to reposition individual atoms and molecules, enabling targeted chemical interactions, yet the ability to direct reactions with competing outcomes remained a challenge. These different outcomes happen with certain probabilities governed by quantum mechanics -- rather like rolling a molecular die. "Our latest research demonstrates that STM can control the probability of reaction outcomes by selectively manipulating charge states and specific resonances through targeted energy injection." Dr Peter Sloan, senior lecturer in the Department of Physics and co-author of the study, said: "We used the STM tip to inject electrons into toluene molecules, prompting the breaking of chemical bonds and either a shift to a nearby site, or desorption. "We found that the ratio of these two outcomes was controlled by the energy of the electrons injected. This energy dependence allowed us to achieve control over the probability of each reaction outcome through the targeted "heating" of an intermediate molecular state, guided by precise energy thresholds and molecular barriers." PhD student Pieter Keenan, first-author on the research publication, said: "The key here was to maintain identical initial conditions for the test reactions -- matching the precise injection site and excitation state -- and then vary outcomes based solely on the energy of the injected electrons. "Within a single molecule's response to the energy input, the differing reaction barriers drive the reaction outcome probabilities. Altering only the energy input allows us, with high precision, to make a reaction outcome more likely than another -- in this way we can 'load the molecular dice'." Professor Tillmann Klamroth from Potsdam University in Germany, added: "This study combines advanced theoretical modelling with experimental precision, leading to a pioneering understanding of the reactions' probabilities based on the molecular energy landscape. This paves the way for further advances in nanotechnology." Looking ahead, Dr Rusimova said: "With applications in both basic and applied science, this advancement represents a major step toward fully programmable molecular systems. We expect techniques such as this to unlock new frontiers in molecular manufacturing, opening doors to innovations in medicine, clean energy, and beyond." The research is published in the journal Nature Communications. It was funded by The Royal Society, and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC). Story Source: Materials provided by University of Bath . Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :Federal government seeks injunctions against two Tulsa-area DAs
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Vucevic, Dosunmu lead Bulls to season-high output in 139-124 win over Spurs with Wembanyama out
Vivek Ramaswamy blames 90s sitcoms for tech companies hiring smarter immigrant workers
The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately. Lawful owners of these newly prohibited firearms will be granted amnesty from criminal liability while they take the steps required to comply, ahead of disposing of their firearms through the still-yet-to-be-implemented buyback program. The federal Liberals also intend to move forward with additional regulatory and legislative measures in the days and months ahead, according to government officials that briefed reporters. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc is making the announcement alongside Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Defence Minister Bill Blair, in Ottawa. Prohibited firearms cannot be bought, sold, lent, or imported. Today's announcement specifically includes "104 families of assault-style firearms, encompassing 324 unique makes and models and their variants," according to briefing materials. The federal Liberals' gun control announcement comes on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre . Ahead of the news breaking, the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights was already criticizing the move as damaging to licensed gun owners, "while doing nothing to increase the safety of Canadians." This move builds on the May 2020 announcement that saw Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reveal that the federal government was imposing a ban on more than 1,500 models and variants of certain "assault-style" weapons that have been used in mass shootings in Canada and abroad. The ban did not outlaw these weapons completely, rather the government offered current owners and retailers of these guns the same ability to be granted amnesty under specific and time-limited terms, while officials developed the mandatory compensation system. This is a breaking news story, more details to come... MORE POLITICS NEWS BREAKING | Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants Poilievre calls on House to back Singh's 'wise' words in no-confidence motion Government asks for third extension on court deadline to pass 'lost Canadians' bill Former cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault tells committee: 'I am not Indigenous' Patrick Brown says foreign interference did not affect Tory leadership race outcome 'Utterly absurd': Freeland rebuffs Poilievre's offer of two hours to present fall economic statement Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa Tariffs on Chinese EVs, aluminum and steel to raise federal revenues by $473M: PBO IN DEPTH Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power. 'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties. 'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it. Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports. 'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday. Opinion opinion | Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election? opinion | Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus. opinion | Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place. opinion | Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point. opinion | Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing. CTVNews.ca Top Stories BREAKING | Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately. LIVE UPDATES | Anger, vitriol against health insurers filled social media in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson used ammunition emblazoned with the words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose,' a law enforcement official said Thursday. 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Pete Davidson, Jason Sudeikis and other former 'SNL' cast members reveal how little they got paid Live from New York, it’s revelations about paydays on 'Saturday Night Live.' The National Weather Service cancels tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after 7.0 earthquake A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. Alleged Alberta Bitcoin extortionist, arsonist arrested Authorities have arrested Finbar Hughes, a man wanted in connection with alleged plots in Calgary and Edmonton that threatened to burn victims' homes if they did not pay him Bitcoin ransoms. Canada Investors made up 25% of B.C. homebuyers in new StatsCan analysis Real estate investors made up approximately one-quarter of homebuyers across B.C. between 2018 and 2020, according to a new analysis from Statistics Canada. Saskatoon dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts A Saskatoon dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts. Alleged Alberta Bitcoin extortionist, arsonist arrested Authorities have arrested Finbar Hughes, a man wanted in connection with alleged plots in Calgary and Edmonton that threatened to burn victims' homes if they did not pay him Bitcoin ransoms. What are your grocery bills like? How do you manage them with rising costs? We want to hear from you The average Canadian family of four is expected to spend about $800 more on groceries next year, according to a new report. No tsunami threat to B.C. after powerful earthquake off California Emergency management officials say there is no tsunami threat to British Columbia after a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off California on Thursday morning. Renewed calls for policy changes following stabbing in downtown Vancouver There are calls for policy changes when it comes to public safety, following Wednesday’s stabbing in the downtown core. World Catholic nun among 25 arrested in mob bust in northern Italy A Catholic nun with the Sisters of Charity Institute in Milan was among 25 people arrested early Thursday morning for a litany of mafia-related crimes, including aiding and abetting extortion, drug trafficking, receiving stolen goods, usury, tax crimes and money laundering. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of a health insurance executive's fatal shooting — 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose' — echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. France's Macron vows to stay in office till end of term, says he'll name a new prime minister soon French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Thursday to stay in office until the end of his term, due in 2027, and announced that he will name a new prime minister within days following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are bringing Trump's DOGE to Capitol Hill Billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy arrived Thursday on Capitol Hill meeting with legislators behind closed doors about president-elect Donald Trump's plans to 'dismantle' the federal government. DEVELOPING | Police release new photos in the search for the gunman in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing The masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose,' a law enforcement official said Thursday. Man wanted for military desertion turns himself in at Canada-U.S. border A man wanted for deserting the U.S. military 16 years ago was arrested at the border in Buffalo, N.Y. earlier this week. Politics BREAKING | Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately. Poilievre calls on House to back Singh's 'wise' words in no-confidence motion Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he agrees with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh on one thing: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals are too weak to fight for Canadians. Government asks for third extension on court deadline to pass 'lost Canadians' bill Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the government is seeking a third extension to a court-mandated deadline to pass legislation that grants citizenship to 'lost Canadians.' Health Fifteen per cent of ER visits in Canada are not for emergencies: report A report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information says one in seven emergency room visits in Canada are for issues that could have been dealt with elsewhere. Life expectancy in Canada: Up last year, still down compared to pre-pandemic The average Canadian can expect to live 81.7 years, according to new death data from Statistics Canada. That’s higher than the previous year, but still lower than pre-pandemic levels. Insurance company halts plan to put time limits on coverage for anesthesia during surgery After sharp criticism from anesthesiologists, an insurance company is halting its plan to limit the amount time it would cover anesthesia used in surgeries and procedures. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said on Thursday it would no longer move forward with the policy change. Sci-Tech NASA pushes back astronaut flights to the moon again NASA announced more delays Thursday in sending astronauts back to the moon more than 50 years after Apollo. Handwriting may solve a 700-year-old mystery, experts believe Crime-solving techniques applied to a medieval illuminated manuscript in Paris may have solved a centuries-old puzzle — the true identity of a leading Byzantine painter who injected humanity into the rigid sanctity of Orthodox religious art. Facial recognition to board a plane: How does it work, and what are the privacy concerns? Air Canada has launched facial recognition technology at the gate for people flying out of Vancouver International Airport - with the promise of a faster boarding process with fewer hassles. Entertainment Creative Taylor Swift fans craft ways around bracelet rules for Vancouver shows When BC Place stadium announced a ban on loose objects and large bags for Taylor Swift's upcoming shows in Vancouver, it put some Swifties in a bind — what to do with the hundreds of friendship bracelets that are traditionally swapped at the superstar's shows? Saskatchewan singer receives surprise message from King Charles III Saskatchewan singer-songwriter Jeffrey Straker received an early Christmas present recently, from King Charles III. Kieran Culkin explains why his kids haven't watched their uncle Macaulay Culkin's classic holiday hit 'Home Alone' Kieran Culkin's children with wife Jazz Charton have never watched the holiday classic 'Home Alone,' which is surprising given that it made their uncle Macaulay Culkin a child star. Business Bitcoin has surpassed the US$100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next? Bitcoin topped US$100,000 for the first time as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. 'It was like I was brainwashed': 2 Ontarians lose $230K to separate AI-generated cryptocurrency ad scams Two Ontarians collectively lost $230,000 after falling victim to separate AI-generated social media posts advertising fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. U.S. judge rejects Boeing's plea deal in a conspiracy case stemming from fatal plane crashes A federal judge on Thursday rejected a deal that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a fine for misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people. Lifestyle Here's what child development experts think about the 'beige mom' trend While the parents are often criticized for their choices in neutral tones, experts say the colours don't matter as long as there is variety and diversity in other areas of the child's life. Mexico plans to impose new US$42 fee on each passenger of cruise ships that dock there The Mexican government plans to impose a US$42 immigration fee for each passenger on a cruise ship that docks in the country. What not to do when hanging up Christmas lights The magic of the holidays wouldn't be complete for many people without Christmas lights, but there are some important tips to know before you set up your ladder. Sports Jays slugger Guerrero wins 2024 Tip O'Neill award as top Canadian player Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been named the 2024 winner of the Tip O'Neill award. Toronto Tempo unveiled as handle for new WNBA team as leak accelerates unveiling Canada's new WNBA franchise will be called the Toronto Tempo, a handle officially unveiled with some haste Thursday morning after it was leaked the previous day. George Russell accuses Max Verstappen of bullying and threatening behaviour as F1 feud deepens Mercedes driver George Russell has accused Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen of bullying and threatening behaviour as a dispute between the two at last week's race in Qatar deepened Thursday. Autos More than 200,000 SUVs recalled in Canada, U.S. over fuel leak concern Honda is recalling approximately 12,000 vehicles in Canada Electric vehicle reliability improving but lagging gas models: Consumer Reports survey The reliability of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids has dramatically improved, narrowing a wide gap with gas-powered automobiles, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports. OPEC+ oil producers' alliance postpones production increases as crude prices stagnate Eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries decided Thursday to put off increasing oil production as they face weaker than expected demand and competing production from non-allied countries — factors that could keep oil prices stagnant into next year. Local Spotlight N.S. woman finds endangered leatherback sea turtle washed up on Cape Breton beach Mary Janet MacDonald has gone for walks on Port Hood Beach, N.S., most of her life, but in all those years, she had never seen anything like the discovery she made on Saturday: a leatherback sea turtle. 'It moved me': Person returns stolen Prada bag to Halifax store; owner donates proceeds A Halifax store owner says a person returned a Prada bag after allegedly stealing it. 'It's all about tradition': Bushwakker marking 30 years of blackberry mead The ancient art of meadmaking has become a holiday tradition for Regina's Bushwakker Brewpub, marking 30 years of its signature blackberry mead on Saturday. Alberta photographer braves frigid storms to capture the beauty of Canadian winters Most people want to stay indoors when temperatures drop to -30, but that’s the picture-perfect condition, literally, for Angela Boehm. N.S. teacher, students help families in need at Christmas for more than 25 years For more than a quarter-century, Lisa Roach's middle school students have been playing the role of Santa Claus to strangers during the holidays. N.S. girl battling rare disease surprised with Taylor Swift-themed salon day A Nova Scotia girl battling a rare disease recently had her 'Wildest Dreams' fulfilled when she was pampered with a Swiftie salon day. Winnipeg city councillor a seven-time provincial arm wrestling champ A Winnipeg city councillor doesn’t just have a strong grip on municipal politics. Watch: Noisy throng of sea lions frolic near Jericho Beach A large swarm of California sea lions have converged in the waters near Vancouver’s Jericho and Locarno beaches. Auburn Bay residents brave the cold to hold Parade of Lights It was pretty cold Saturday night, but the hearts of those in a southeast Calgary neighbourhood warmed right up during a big annual celebration. Vancouver Fatal crash closes Vancouver intersection Police are on scene after a fatal collision between a cyclist and a vehicle in East Vancouver Thursday afternoon. No tsunami threat to B.C. after powerful earthquake off California Emergency management officials say there is no tsunami threat to British Columbia after a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off California on Thursday morning. B.C. premier says feds and provinces plan right-left approach to Trump's tariff plans British Columbia Premier David Eby says Canada's premiers and the federal government have hatched a game plan over possible U.S. tariffs, where Conservative premiers lobby their Republican counterparts and left-leaning leaders court the Democrats, while the federal government focuses on president-elect Donald Trump. Toronto 2 men, 4 teens charged in Markham jewelry store robbery as police search for 6 more suspects York Regional Police have charged four teenage boys and two men and are looking for six more suspects in connection with a jewelry store robbery in Markham on Wednesday. Video shows moments leading up to fatal shooting in Brampton Video has surfaced showing the moments leading up to a fatal shooting outside of a Brampton home late Wednesday night. 'It was like I was brainwashed': 2 Ontarians lose $230K to separate AI-generated cryptocurrency ad scams Two Ontarians collectively lost $230,000 after falling victim to separate AI-generated social media posts advertising fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. Calgary Glenmore Landing redevelopment defeated by vote at Calgary council Calgary city council has defeated a motion to rezone a piece of land in Glenmore Landing to allow for a high-density development in the area. New Stampeder QB Vernon Adams Jr. visits McMahon Stadium with high hopes for 2025 season The Calgary Stampeders’ new number one quarterback has arrived in Calgary. After spending American Thanksgiving in Arizona, Vernon Adams checked out the facilities at McMahon Stadium and met with the media. Here's how much Calgary housing prices are expected to increase by the end of 2025 Calgary’s real estate prices are expected to continue to increase next year, according to a recent market forecast. Ottawa Sprung structures could be converted to community centres after asylum seeker use A City of Ottawa official says the proposed Sprung structures that the city wants to use to house asylum seekers could be converted to other public uses once they are no longer needed as newcomer welcoming centres. Ottawa customers turning to couriers to get holiday packages shipped as Canada Post strike continues The ongoing postal workers strike has some people turning to other delivery companies to get their holiday packages sent to loved ones in time for Christmas. OPP lay charges against two Ottawa towing companies Ontario Provincial Police have laid numerous charges against two local towing companies. Montreal WEATHER | Montreal hit with first major snowfall of the year Montrealers woke up on Thursday to the first real dump of snow as winter looks ready to set in. BREAKING | Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately. The majority of 17-month-old babies in Quebec use a screen every day: study Screens have found their way into families and are now an integral part of everyday life. Even under the age of two, babies in Quebec are using screens every day. Toddlers from low-income households use screens more frequently, according to a report by the Quebec statistics institute (ISQ) published on Thursday. Edmonton 30 robberies involving the swarming of store employees reported to Edmonton police The Edmonton Police Service is warning of a new shoplifting trend where groups of young people swarm store employees to steal expensive products. BREAKING | Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately. Ottawa, Alberta announce $162M rare disease drug agreement Alberta has entered a $162-million agreement with the federal government to provide access to drugs for rare diseases. Atlantic Fifteen per cent of ER visits in Canada are not for emergencies: report A report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information says one in seven emergency room visits in Canada are for issues that could have been dealt with elsewhere. Police investigating after second homeless Nova Scotia man dies in as many weeks Police in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley are investigating the second sudden death of a homeless person within the past two weeks, prompting a local social advocate to sound the alarm about worsening weather. 'It's remarkable': How rising costs could impact food banks As the cost of food continues to rise, Maritime food banks are struggling to keep their shelves stocked. Winnipeg Manitoba bill would toughen penalties for some impaired-driving offences The Manitoba government is looking to bring in tougher penalties on people who are convicted of impaired driving offences that cause injury or death. Jordan’s Principle spending, Manitoba requests only increasing In the last five years, the number of approved Jordan’s Principle requests and the subsequent spending have nearly tripled. Silver Alert issued for missing Winnipeg woman Winnipeg police are concerned about the well-being of a missing senior. Regina Affordability, carbon tax bills pass as Sask. legislature continues short sitting The Saskatchewan Party's election promises of action on affordability and continued carbon tax exemptions have been fulfilled as the short sitting of the legislature carries on. Roughriders re-sign veteran quarterback Trevor Harris, inside source confirms The Saskatchewan Roughriders have re-signed veteran quarterback Trevor Harris, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji. Saskatoon dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts A Saskatoon dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts. Kitchener developing | Arrest made, replica firearm seized, after early morning standoff in Stratford One woman has been sent to hospital as Stratford Police investigate an intimate violence investigation Thursday morning. One person sent to hospital after collision near Brantford One person was sent to hospital after a collision involving a tractor trailer and a pedestrian near Brantford early Thursday morning. jeewan chanicka no longer Waterloo Regional District School Board director The Waterloo Region District School Board is under new leadership. Saskatoon Saskatoon dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts A Saskatoon dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts. Sask. school bus driver arrested for impaired driving after transporting 50 kids A Saskatchewan school bus driver, who was transporting 50 children shortly before his arrest, is facing impaired driving related charges. Saskatoon firefighters called back to home after ember rekindles the next morning Saskatoon firefighters had to return to the scene of a house fire on Thursday morning after an ember in the attic rekindled. Northern Ontario Four transport truck drivers charged in northern Ont. collisions on Hwy. 11 Bad weather and bad driving contributed to multiple collisions on Highway 11 on Wednesday, leading to charges for several commercial motor vehicle drivers. Layoffs at Vale's Sudbury operations not affecting members of Local 6500 Some non-union staff at Vale in the Sudbury area are being laid off, but the company is not saying how many and what positions are being affected. Northern Ont. police catch liquor store thief, getaway driver Two people from southern Ontario have been charged in connection with a liquor store robbery Wednesday in the Town of Thessalon. The suspects were caught after trying to flee on Highway 17 and hiding the booze in a snowbank. London Multiple collisions close highways, visibility deteriorates as major system hangs over London area If you’re begging for the snow to stop, unfortunately reprieve is not on the way just yet. Police close local highways due to weather Snow squalls and strong winds made for treacherous conditions, closing portions of the 401 and 402 on Thursday. Fire displaces eight people, injures two A fire that broke out at a home on Hale Street resulted in two people being assessed by paramedics, and as many as eight people being displaced. Barrie BREAKING | Ontario police charge man in connection with deadly police-involved shooting in Innisfil A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fatal police-involved shooting in an Innisfil, Ont. community nearly four months ago. Snow squall warning issued for Simcoe County, with up to 50 cm of snow possible Snow squall warnings for most of central Ontario with snow accumulations up to 50 centimetres likely. Preliminary hearing begins for man accused in Orillia murder case Brian Lancaster sat in the prisoner’s box inside a Barrie courtroom on Thursday for the start of his preliminary hearing - the details of which are protected by a publication ban. Windsor 14-year-old boys charged with gunpoint robbery and kidnapping Windsor police officers have arrested two 14-year-old boys related to a kidnapping and gunpoint robbery in south Windsor. 'It’s a big milestone': New CK children’s treatment centre expanding The new Chatham-Kent Children’s Treatment Centre is taking a big next step in its expansion process. Suspect wanted, another arrested following string of break-ins One man has been arrested following a string of commercial break-ins, according to police. Vancouver Island No tsunami threat to B.C. after powerful earthquake off California Emergency management officials say there is no tsunami threat to British Columbia after a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off California on Thursday morning. B.C. minister stepping away from role following cancer diagnosis B.C.'s Minister of Children and Family Development, Grace Lore, is stepping away from her role after being diagnosed with cancer. B.C. premier says feds and provinces plan right-left approach to Trump's tariff plans British Columbia Premier David Eby says Canada's premiers and the federal government have hatched a game plan over possible U.S. tariffs, where Conservative premiers lobby their Republican counterparts and left-leaning leaders court the Democrats, while the federal government focuses on president-elect Donald Trump. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Lethbridge Lethbridge peace officer charged in relation to more than 10-year-old incident A Lethbridge police community peace officer has been charged with an off-duty incident stemming from more than 10 years ago. Lethbridge homeless support facilities expanding to cope with increasing demand Lethbridge has seen its population of people experiencing homelessness increase significantly over recent years, but help is coming, as construction is underway on an expansion of the Lethbridge Shelter. Southern Alberta man sentenced in 2021 killing A southern Alberta man has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years, less time served, in connection with a fatal attack on Linden Grier more than three years ago. Sault Ste. Marie Northern Ont. police catch liquor store thief, getaway driver Two people from southern Ontario have been charged in connection with a liquor store robbery Wednesday in the Town of Thessalon. The suspects were caught after trying to flee on Highway 17 and hiding the booze in a snowbank. 'Sense of relief' for lottery winner who recently went through rough times Adding Encore to a few free plays in the Ontario 49 lottery turned out to be very lucky for a PSW from Timmins. New addition to the CTV Northern Ontario family The CTV Northern Ontario family got a little bigger Tuesday when longtime anchor Marina Moore and her husband welcomed their second baby into the world. N.L. 'Kids are scared': Random attacks have residents of small-city N.L. shaken Mount Pearl, near St. John's, has been the scene for three random attacks in November. Police have arrested and charged seven youth. 'They're sitting ducks:' More women with disabilities unhoused due to abuse, violence New data show women with disabilities are more likely to be forced into homelessness because of violence or abuse. GivingTuesday: Food banks need help, but charity won't end hunger, advocates say It's GivingTuesday, and some directors of food banks and anti-poverty groups say the day underlines a conundrum for their organizations. Stay ConnectedAdvance Directives Market New Trends, Size, Share, Top Companies, Industry Analysis, Advance Technology, Future Development & Forecast - 2028Zayn Malik issues emotional apology as he breaks silence after last minute gig cancellation
S&P/TSX composite rises Thursday, U.S. markets down
Intuit Inc. (INTU) UBS Global Technology and AI Conference (Transcript)NonePune, Dec 26 (IANS): Ayan Lohchab scored 10 points in the decisive Eliminator 2 clash of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 as Patna Pirates demonstrated their championship pedigree with a convincing 31-23 win over U Mumba at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Thursday night. Securing the last remaining spot in the semifinals, they were led by the exceptional performance of Lohchab scored eight raid points in his total of 10, while Gurdeep scored a High 5, keeping their opponents quiet throughout the whole game. The win set up an exciting clash in semifinal 2, against the in-form Dabang Delhi K.C. An All Out inflicted upon U Mumba eight and a half minutes into the match gave the Patna Pirates a very strong start as the three-time PKL Champions. This came after Devank Dalal was off the mat at the start of the match, but Ayan Lohchab stepped to the fore. He was well supported by his defenders, as the likes of Ajit Chouhan and Rohit Raghav were kept quiet throughout the first phase of the clash. U Mumba upped the ante in the second phase of the game in a bid to equal the score but to no avail. Ajit Chouhan was kept in check by the likes of Gurdeep and Ankit, while Ayan carried the Patna Pirates' attacking unit. A second All Out was forced upon U Mumba, hampering their hard work with two minutes left to the end of the first half. The score eventually read 17-11 at the half-time stage. As the second half commenced, Ayan continued his attacking forays. But this was not Ayan's only contribution for Patna Pirates, as he executed a crucial Super Tackle with a perfectly timed knee hold that pinned Ajit Chouhan to the mat. While Amirmohammad Zafardanesh managed to claw back a point for U Mumba with a swift hand touch on the left corner, the match remained finely balanced as the teams headed into the second timeout. In a crucial do-or-die raid, Devank, despite his limited involvement throughout the match, proved his mettle by successfully evading Rinku's challenge against a three-man U Mumba defence. Although substitute raider M Dhanasekar managed to secure two points for U Mumba, the Patna Pirates' tactical decision to run down the clock proved effective, leaving U Mumba struggling to accumulate points at the necessary pace to mount a comeback, as the three-time champions confirmed their place in semi-final 2, where they will face Dabang Delhi K.C.
UK announces new £108m climate finance programmeNone
MapmyIndia informed the bourses on Friday that its CEO Rohan Verma would be parting ways from the executive duties to fully focus on building a B2C business However, investors have slammed the move, saying that the terms of the separation agreement aren’t fair to MapmyIndia’s minority stakeholders Despite the backlash, Rohan Verma remains adamant and plans to use his own funds to fund and run the new B2C venture Share price of geotech company MapmyIndia’s parent CE Info Systems plunged to a new 52-week low of INR 1,535 during the intraday trading on Tuesday (December 3), marking an about 12.5% decline from its closing price of INR 1,753.80 on Friday (November 29). The company’s market capitalisation fell to INR 8,370.79 Cr (about $988.34 Mn) at the end of Tuesday’s trading session. Behind this fall in stock price was a series of events, beginning Friday. The company informed the bourses on Friday, after market hours, that its CEO and executive director Rohan Verma will be parting ways from the executive duties to fully focus on building a B2C business as a “a dedicated separate” company. CEO Verma will be transitioning from CE Info Systems to take up an executive position in the new company from April 1, 2025. However, he will remain a non-executive director on the board of the geotech company. Moving forth, MapmyIndia said that its CMD Rakesh Kumar Verma will continue to provide leadership to the company. In a subsequent press release issued on December 1, MapmyIndia, without exactly saying it, made it clear that it will hive off its B2C business after the incorporation of the new startup. In the press release titled, “MapmyIndia to continue focusing on its core B2B and B2B2C businesses”, the company said that the new venture will use MapmyIndia’s consumer facing map product Mappls. However, MapmyIndia will continue to have access to Mappls for its B2B2C and B2G2C offering. The new company will operate as an independent entity and bear all expenses related to its business, be it people cost, marketing cost or cloud cost. MapmyIndia will acquire a 10% stake in the new entity with an investment of INR 10 Lakh. Further, it will also be subscribing to INR 35 Cr worth of compulsorily convertible debentures (CCDs) of the new company, which will convert to equity either after 10 years or at a 25% discount to any third party valuation of the new company, whichever is earlier. “The future capital requirement will be taken up by the MapmyIndia board at appropriate time,” it said. MapMyIndia’s departing CEO Rohan Verma will hold the remaining 90% stake in the new venture. MapmyIndia held an investor meeting on Monday (December 2) to discuss the latest developments. However, it laid bare the dissatisfaction of investors and analysts with the company’s decisions, with one of the investors going as far as saying that the terms of the separation agreement aren’t fair to MapmyIndia’s minority stakeholders. During the call, the CMD said that MapmyIndia consulted many “serious investors, not retail traders” before taking the decision. “All of them said that the company’s quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) performance is what ultimately matters,” he added. When asked if the move would actually translate to a better financial performance on a QoQ level, he refrained from making a direct comment on the impact on the company’s immediate future. Instead, he said that the company has been facing investor scrutiny over its weak financial performance in the last quarter. In the quarter ending September 2024 (Q2 FY25), MapmyIndia’s profit after tax (PAT) declined 15% on a sequential basis to INR 33.09 Cr from INR 35.86 Cr. In Q1 FY25, the decline in PAT was about 6% QoQ. Explaining the rationale behind the decision to hive off the B2C business after two consecutive quarters of less-than-satisfactory performances, the departing CEO said that MapmyIndia is a B2B company at its core and it lacks the DNA of a B2C business. Thus, while the company spent a significant amount on incubating its B2C arm, it made a dent in its bottom line. In its investor presentation for Q2 FY25, MapmyIndia said, “Marketing expenses went up by an incremental INR 2.3 Cr and cloud infrastructure costs increased by INR 1.3 Cr QoQ to support consumer brand Mappls reach, resulting in increased downloads to 25 Mn+ Mappls app users at the end of Q2 FY25.” During the call, the company’s management said that the increase in its marketing expenses was solely to support the growth of the consumer facing business. However, proxy advisory firm InGovern Research Services pointed out that MapmyIndia would still invest in the separate new B2C venture while focusing on its core B2B and B2B2C operations. “The potential diversion of capital towards the new venture may impact the company’s operational efficiency and profitability in its primary business areas,” it said. Further, InGovern also pointed out the significant investment that MapmyIndia would be making in the new entity through CCDs. It questioned the company’s financial risk management plans in case the new entity failed to perform. Later on Tuesday, MapmyIndia apparently decided to not subscribe to the CCDs. “MapmyIndia’s board approved investment of INR 35 Cr through CCDs... but after hearing the concerns of minority investors, I have decided not to take the investment, and I’ll use my own funds to run this venture,” Rohan Verma told ET. However, MapmyIndia had not informed the bourses about the development till the time of publishing this story. The new entity will also inherit Mappls Mall and Travel, which MapmyIndia said is in the incubation stage, and Mappls Gadgets for consumers, marketed through D2C or ecommerce channels. The company’s Mappls app, which provides maps, real-time updates with ETA, voice navigation, safety alerts for disturbances like speed breakers, potholes, accident prone areas and 3D photo realistic viewability option, has seen over 10 Mn downloads on the Google Playstore. In its investor presentation for Q2 FY25, MapmyIndia said that Mappls became the “No. 1 on App Store in India across all categories” in FY24. The separation of Mappls into a different entity is perhaps the biggest concern that investors have. During an over hour-long investor call, the primary question that was repeatedly asked to MapmyIndia’s management was the impact the separation would have on the company. The company’s management said that the ownership of Mappls will be with the new entity. Hence, while the new company will earn its revenue from Mappls’ products, CE Infosystem will only have access to anonymised data collected by it. This irked many investors and analysts who sought to know the reasoning behind this move. Addressing the concerns, Rakesh Verma said that Mappls as a brand itself is not the consumer business of the company today. The app is free to use and will continue to be free in the near foreseeable future, he asserted. “MapmyIndia has created 25 Mn downloads for Mappls as of today. It is going to them, but MapmyIndia is keeping the full brand usage for five years. I can’t answer what will happen after five years,” he said. The outgoing CEO justified the separation by saying that the purpose of Mappls was to showcase and complement MapmyIndia’s core business. Hence, when it is spread out to more customers, it is likely to translate in more revenue for MapmyIndia as the brand gets to showcase its tech to a greater audience. He said that this showcase as well as the extra data MapmyIndia will get can actually be seen as the “royalty” for it. Some investors and a number of people on the internet posed questions on the related party transaction (RPT) and the terms of the deal. In a post on X, portfolio management service provider Capitalmind’s CEO Deepak Shenoy said, “Regardless of who’s putting in money to fund a “B2C” business, it’s not good corporate governance to offer a brand, past goodwill and potential future growth of a consumer business to a related party, while taking only 10% stake.” In its report, InGovern marked the RPT as the biggest red flag. It said that Rohan Verma’s continued presence on the board could influence decisions related to the new B2C entity. It added that his dual role could blur the “lines of governance and accountability” at MapmyIndia. However, MapmyIndia, in its statement, said that the RTP was considered “carefully” by the board and it is as per the compliance requirement. “MapmyIndia founders (Rakesh Verma and Rashmi Verma) will have no part in the new entity. They will be completely focused on building MapmyIndia and have no other interests beyond MapmyIndia and will continue guiding the company towards new growth trajectories without any distractions. While Rohan can concentrate his energies on building the B2C business,” it said. Step up your startup journey with BHASKAR! From resources to networking, BHASKAR connects Indian innovators with everything they need to succeed. Join today to access a platform built for innovation, growth, and community.Purewave Hydrogen Corp Announces Appointments to the Advisory Board PureWave Hydrogen Corp. (TSXV: PWH) (the “ ”), is pleased to announce the appointment of two distinguished professionals to its Advisory Board: Matt Silverman as Geoscience Advisor and Daniel Jaouiche as Energy Strategy Advisor. These additions bring a wealth of experience to support the Company’s initiatives in advancing clean hydrogen exploration and production. Mr. Silverman joins the Advisory Board with over 45 years of extensive experience in petroleum exploration and production. Throughout his career, Mr. Silverman has successfully contributed to the discovery and development of oil and natural gas reserves across Europe, Asia, and the western United States. From 2001 to 2023, Mr. Silverman served as the lead for exploration, new ventures, and special projects with Robert L. Bayless, Producer LLC, a prominent private oil and gas company operating in the Central and Southern Rocky Mountain regions. As Exploration Manager of Bayless’s affiliate, Sweetpea Petroleum, Mr. Silverman directed efforts to explore the Beetaloo Basin in Australia’s Northern Territory. His work included geologic, seismic, and environmental studies, as well as overseeing negotiations and approvals on a 7-million-acre block. Drilling activities in the Beetaloo Basin and surrounding permits have highlighted its potential as a world-class hydrocarbon province, with unconventional Mesoproterozoic shale-gas reservoirs being a principal focus. With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Jaouiche is a recognized expert in energy strategy and M&A. His career includes corporate development leadership roles with Fortune 500 energy companies and senior advisory positions with leading consulting firms. Mr. Jaouiche has successfully managed transactions valued at over $100 billion across the full energy value chain. His expertise extends to the Energy Transition sector, with a particular focus on green hydrogen and ammonia. His deep knowledge of the full transaction cycle and energy transition initiatives aligns perfectly with PureWave Hydrogen’s mission to accelerate the development of sustainable energy solutions. , CEO at PureWave Hydrogen said, “Matt’s unparalleled expertise in geoscience and global exploration, coupled with Daniel’s strategic leadership in energy transitions and M&A, will be instrumental in advancing our mission to unlock the potential of naturally occurring hydrogen. Their insights and experience will strengthen our efforts to drive innovation and sustainable growth in the hydrogen sector.” PureWave Hydrogen Corp. is a pioneering energy exploration company dedicated to advancing the discovery and development of naturally occurring ‘white’ hydrogen gas deposits. As a leader in the green energy transition, we are committed to unlocking the potential of this untapped, sustainable resource to revolutionize the global hydrogen economy. With a strategic focus on cutting-edge geological exploration, we have established operations in key resource-rich areas such as the Mid-Continent Rift in Kansas, leveraging advanced technologies and collaborative partnerships to identify and develop high-potential hydrogen reservoirs. Our work is underpinned by a rigorous scientific approach, exemplified by initiatives like water geochemistry studies and aeromagnetic data analysis to guide our exploration strategies. At PureWave Hydrogen, we aim to create value not only for our investors but also for the environment. By harnessing naturally occurring hydrogen, we are contributing to a cleaner, greener future while addressing the growing global demand for renewable energy solutions. READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Purewave Hydrogen Corp Announces Appointments to the Advisory Board, Hexagon Composites names Dr Philipp Schramm as Chief Executive Officer OSLO, Norway, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of Hexagon Composites (OSE: HEX.OL) is pleased to announce the appointment of... Cipher Neutron Adds Industry Veteran Dr Pierre Rivard to Its Board of Directors Canadian company Cipher Neutron Inc. (“Cipher Neutron”, the “Company” or “CN”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Pierre Rivard... Inomin Appoints Morten Stahl as Hydrogen Advisor Morten is an entrepreneur, seasoned climate tech investor, and the founder of Natural Hydrogen Ventures, the world’s first investment fund dedicated to the emerging...
Stock Market Today: Wall Street Hangs Near Its RecordsKaryopharm CEO Richard Paulson sells $2,932 in stock